Description

In an era of declining timber harvests on federal lands, the US Forest Service has sought to better describe the public benefits associated with the nation's continued investment in managing the national forests. We considered how national forests contribute to public health by providing significant outdoor recreation opportunities. Physical inactivity has become a persistent national concern owing to its association with chronic diseases, obesity, and other public health concerns. We estimated the net energy expenditure (in calories) for a range of outdoor recreation activities engaged in by visitors to national forests. We conclude that national forest contributions to physical activity among the American public likely are significant and could be enhanced with continued and targeted investments in recreation infrastructure and public outreach.